At this moment though? Our eyes meet, and I know the same thing is going through her head as it is mine.
We get to our feet, immediately taking off back through the orchard. The only sound in the air is our heavy breathing as we race back home, hand-in-hand. Mabel and I hop across the small creek that runs behind the trailer park, and my heart feels like it's going to drop out of my chest by the time we make it home.
The door of our trailer sits broken on its hinges, and I pull Mabel back when she tries to run inside. It's dark outside now, and the only light coming from the trailer is the blue light of the TV.
The trailer park is quiet, but I see our neighbor, Old Man Peterson, quickly shut the curtains of his window. Everyone heard the same thing we did, and maybe someone called the police. But in this neighborhood, nobody is going to come out and help you.
Mabel and I…we're on our own.
Mamais at work down at Johnson's Grocery and she's not off until late, so we can’t count on her either.
What if…what if someone finally came to collect on Daddy's debts? What if we’re free of him?
"Jo…" Mabel trails off, her eyes fixed on the door as her hand strangles mine.
"I know." I swallow, my eyes shifting to her. Maybe Daddy is out. Maybe he went to the bar, and…and…"I'll go check it out."
I try to take a step forward, but she doesn't let go of my hand. "Maybe we could run," she whispers, her eyes wide, "if it's Daddy in there, we can grab Mama and run. Make it look like—"
"And if it's not Daddy?" I hiss, shaking my head. "I need to know, Mabel. I can't leave here, not knowin' one way or the other."
Swallowing, she nods, unfurling her fingers from mine and taking a step back. My legs are shaky as I walk up the steps, and when I peek around the corner—
"Mama!" my voice chokes out, rushing to her side. She's on the floor of the kitchen, red pooling beneath her, bags of groceries strewn everywhere as she struggles and gasps for breath. "Mama what happened?" I choke out, and then I hear Mabel's choked sob behind me. "Why are you home? You were supposed to be at work!"
"Jo? Baby?" Mama blinks up at me, her foggy eyes clearing slightly.
"I'm here, Mama. It's going to be okay." I try to hold my hands over her side where I can see the wound blooming red. A gunshot. "Mabel! Call 9-1-1!" She nods and disappears into the living room to grab the phone.
"No," Mama strains, "It's…it's too late for me. They…found…me. But…I need you…to listen. You don't…have much time…"
Her eyes flutter closed. "Mama, what? Have time for what?" On instinct, I shake her shoulders, wincing when her face contorts in pain.
Her hazy green eyes open, and I blink back tears. "My nightstand…taped…under…drawer. Call. He'll…take care…of you…"
Mabel rushes back into the room, the phone held to her ear. "We heard a gunshot, and now Mama is on the ground bleedin'." She rattles off the address and hangs up. "They're sendin' an ambulance, Mama. It's gonna be okay."
Mama gives her a weak smile. "I love you…both so much. There's…somethin' you need to know. Your father's…"
But then…the worst thing that could have happened…happens.
"What the fuck is going on?" Daddy's voice roars from the doorway, and Mabel and I look at him with tear-stained faces.
"I…I don't know. We were at the orchard, and we heard a shot, and then…" I choke on my words, and Daddy's face turns panicked for a moment before he curses and comes over to us.
"Did you call the police?" His voice is cold.
"Yes, we—" I don't even see the hit coming. One moment, I'm staring at the light leaving Mama's eyes, and the next, my ears are ringing as my head whips to the side.
"Stupid, stupid girl!" He spits at me. "They're gonna try to blame this on me, ya hear? And then you and Mabel will be on the streets! Is that what you want?"
"Why would they blame you?" Mabel asks quietly, sniffling.
Daddy pales, before shaking his head. "It doesn't matter. I was at John's Place. I have an alibi." It almost seems like he's talking to himself. Then his attention comes onto me again.
"What was she doin' home? She was supposed to be at work.Youwere supposed to be home."
"I…" my voice shakes as I take in the groceries littered on the floor. Broken eggs, chocolate frosting…
